Hawaii hospital group now calling recent COVID increase a ‘surge’

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - There are currently 71 people statewide hospitalized with COVID.

While that’s still a manageable number, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii is calling it a “surge.”

Less than a month ago, there were no cases in the ICU — as of Thursday, there are five.

The figures surge still pale in comparison to the Delta and Omicron surges, when roughly 30% of all hospital patients had COVID. Right now, that number stands at about 3%.

The state Department of Health reported in its last weekly update that 4,249 new COVID-19 cases and 10 additional deaths. Though the number may not be an accurate representation of cases in the islands due to at-home tests, it shows a steady rise in infections over the past few weeks.

The state reports that Hawaii is averaging 485 new cases a day with 11.5% positivity.

“Because the rate of increase that is occurring is much much slower, much more gradual, so right now it is very manageable,” said Hilton Raethel of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

“However, we don’t know how high these numbers are going to go. If we get to 100 patients in our hospitals, that will start to cause more concern.”

Meanwhile, with graduation ceremonies starting up this weekend, attendees are still encouraged to distance and wear masks indoors.

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